Virtual prototyping system and method

Abstract

A method for modeling design of products, the method comprising: a. providing a user with a computer, the computer having software capability locally or remotely accessible to do the following: i. analyze one or more analysis inputs; ii. assemble the inputs for analysis; iii. perform a simulation analysis; iv. generate a report; b. initiating an analysis session on the computer; c. selecting one or more analysis inputs; d. assembling the analysis inputs; e. running an analysis; f. generating a report of the analysis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 737,830, filed Nov. 17, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a system that can be used to facilitate three-dimensional computer-aided modeling and design of products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Computer simulations, e.g., finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and the like, have long been used to model and predict the behavior of systems, particularly dynamic systems. Such systems use mathematical formulations to calculate behavior under various conditions based on fundamental physical properties and physics equations. Various methods are known to convert a known physical object into a grid, or mesh, for performing a simulation, and various methods are known for calculating interfacial properties, such as stress and strain in the case of FEA, at the intersection of two or more modeled physical obje...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Such systems typically rely on geometry considerations, and do not take into account basic physical laws.

The problem remains, however, that the effort required to set-up and conduct an analysis according to these methods requires expertise across several fields and usage of complicated software tools that often require years of training before an effective initial model can be created.

For an individual who may be interested in designing a product by use of these methods that have been discussed, these years of training are both expensive and time-consuming, and effectively inhibit broad-based acceptance of these methods for the purposes of effectively designing products by use of these methods.

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